A 28-year-old man from Melksham, Joe Martin, has been sentenced to nine months in prison after pleading guilty to controlling and coercive behaviour against a young woman in her 20s. The offences occurred between 7 and 18 February and involved Martin forcibly taking the woman from a pub in Bath, locking her inside his car, and threatening serious harm.
Martin took the woman’s phone to stop her from calling for help and made threats to pay someone to cut off her head. He also threatened to crash the vehicle while they were inside, causing the woman considerable fear for her safety.
The victim reported Martin’s actions to the police, leading to his arrest and subsequent remand into custody. At Salisbury Crown Court on 17 August, Martin received a nine-month prison sentence along with a five-year restraining order.
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Assistant Superintendent Surgery condemned Martin’s behaviour as “absolutely awful” and acknowledged the significant distress it caused the victim. He praised her bravery in reporting the abuse and following through with the legal process. Surgery emphasised that tackling violence against women and girls remains a priority for the police, who are committed to prosecuting offenders rigorously.
Support is available for victims of domestic violence through various organisations. Individuals unable to speak during emergencies can dial 999 and press 55 to silently alert the police.